Current Staff
Allegra E. Klein, MBA
Executive Director
Allegra E. Klein has served as Director of Development for HBP Services, Inc., a Pathology and Radiology practice management firm in Woodbridge, CT, since 2018. Her focus is on growth strategies and long-term planning, with the goal of expanding the client base and attracting new business. Additionally, she provides project oversight and analysis for select client consultations.
In 2019, Ms. Klein became Director of the Panel of National Pathology Leaders, a national non-profit “think tank” co-founded by HBP and McDonald Hopkins, LLC, and dedicated to creative, value-based business solutions for Pathology groups. In this role, she is responsible for developing and implementing strategies, leading projects, and working with the panelists and other collaborators to achieve PNPL’s mission.
Prior to joining HBP and PNPL, Ms. Klein served as Chief Operating Officer for a global staffing firm in Iraq and Chief Development Officer for an Iraqi contracting company based in Baghdad, where she brought in over $5 million in new business. Her non-profit experience includes roles with Carnegie Hall, Musicians For Harmony (a 501c3 she founded in 2001), and the Connecticut Sustainable Business Council.
Ms. Klein received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and her MBA from University of Connecticut’s School of Business, where she was inducted into the UConn Alumni Hall of Fame.
Heather Gaburo, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM
Technical Director
Heather Gaburo is a certified pathologists’ assistant with over 10 years of experience in community, academic, and research settings. She has served the PathA profession as: a Board of Trustees (BOT) member of the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants (AAPA); the AAPA's American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Member Representative; the Molecular Division Managing Editor of the AAPA Macroscopic Examination Guidelines: Utilization of the CAP Cancer Protocols at the Surgical Gross Bench; as the lead of the AAPA’s Grossing Video project; and as a mentor for prospective students.
In her role as Technical Director for the Panel of National Pathology Leaders, she provides oversight for technical and administrative operations. In her prior role as a Research Associate, she was responsible for supporting projects, preparing and editing manuscripts, conducting literature reviews and outreach, and organizing data.
Ms. Gaburo received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the College of William and Mary and her master’s degree as a pathologists’ assistant from Quinnipiac University.
Ann-Elise White, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM
Research Associate
Ann-Elise White graduated from the Pathologists’ Assistant program at Quinnipiac University in May 2024 and is now working at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. In her current role, she provides research support for PNPL's Diagnostic Medicine Focus Group. She previously served as a Research Assistant for PNPL with responsibilities including research on the integration of Digital Pathology and AI into pathology practices and best practices for Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability in pathology organizations. She also worked with the Compliance and Practice Leadership Council Networking Teams.
Ms. White received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Callen Spencer
Research Assistant
Callen Spencer is a second year Pathologists’ Assistant student at Quinnipiac University, aiming to graduate in 2025. As a Research Assistant for the Panel of National Pathology Leaders, she supports PNPL’s Focus Groups, including the groups pertaining to Corporate Social Responsibility and Digital Pathology and AI, as well as the Compliance Officer and Practice Leadership Council Networking Teams. She also manages their Member’s Reference Library, social media accounts, and website. Prior to her role at PNPL, she served as lab manager and senior research technologist for the Neuropathology Core at an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Ms. Spencer received her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Danielle Ippolito
Research Assistant
Danielle Ippolito is a first-year Pathologists’ Assistant student at Quinnipiac University, set to graduate in 2026. Currently serving as a Research Assistant for the Panel of National Pathology Leaders, Danielle conducts research on relevant literature aimed at advancing current practices in Diagnostic Medicine and Digital Pathology. Additionally, she actively engages with both the Practice Leadership Counsel and Laboratory Directors Networking Teams.
Prior to her role as Research Assistant, Danielle worked as the Lead Forensic Technician at the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner.
Danielle earned her Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from Arizona State University.
Maura Benner
Research Assistant
Maura Benner is a first-year Pathologists’ Assistant student at Quinnipiac University, set to graduate in 2026. In her role as a Research Assistant for the Panel of National Pathology Leaders, Maura will be supporting the focus group of Corporate Social Responsibility, as well as working with the Chief Financial Officer /Revenue Cycle Management and Compliance Officers networking teams.
Prior to her work with PNPL, Maura served as the Just Say Yes Community Health and Nutrition Coordinator for the Food Bank of Southern Tier in Elmira, NY. She received her bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from Ithaca College, and her Master of Public Health from Cornell University.
Former Staff
Valeria Echeverry, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM
Research Assistant
Valeria Echeverry graduated from the Pathologists’ Assistant program at Quinnipiac University in May 2022 and is now working as a PathA for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She joined the Panel of National Pathology Leaders as a Research Assistant in 2021 and was responsible for the organization and launch of the Member's Reference Library. Prior to her PathA program, Valeria worked as a case manager for a grantee shelter of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. She was also employed as a university adjunct instructor where she taught anatomy labs and lectures.
Ms. Echeverry holds a Master of Science in Biology from Chatham University and a Bachelor of Science from East Stroudsburg University.
Julianna Mastroianni, MHS, PA(ASCP)
Research Assistant
Julianna Mastroianni is a certified and practicing Pathologists’ Assistant. She is responsible for accurate and thorough dissection of surgical specimens, leading to an accurate diagnosis. She received her masters degree from Quinnipiac University in May 2021 and is currently employed by Ruffolo, Hooper and Associates, M.D., P.A. in Tampa, FL. Prior to graduation, Ms. Mastroianni served as a Research Associate for the Panel of National Pathology Leaders. In this role, she managed research files, updated databases, and posted items to PNPL’s newsletter, website and social media.
Ms. Mastroianni received her bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science from the University of Rhode Island. Following graduation, she sat for the Medical Technologist certification exam and gained experience in the clinical laboratory setting, prior to beginning her graduate degree.
Annette Phan, MHS, PA(ASCP)
Research Assistant
Annette Phan graduated from Duke University’s Pathologists’ Assistant Program in July 2022 and is currently working as a PathA for Clinical Pathology Laboratories in Austin, TX. As a former Research Assistant at the Panel of National Pathology Leaders, she was responsible for managing research files, updating the PNPL website, and providing research as needed for PNPL projects. Prior to her role at PNPL and her studies at Duke University, she worked as a biological chemicals production and purification research assistant, learning different processes for the production of research biochemicals and peptides.
Ms. Phan received her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX.
Amanda Rumping, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM
Research Associate
Amanda Rumping is a Pathologists’ Assistant Supervisor with a total of 19 years’ experience in the field of pathology, including 11 as a certified Pathologists’ Assistant (PA). She currently leads a team of PAs and gross technicians in a large healthcare system with community, academic and research settings.
In 2022, Amanda joined the Panel of National Pathology Leaders (PNPL), as a Research Associate. In this role, she was responsible for supporting PNPL’s focus group on Digital Pathology and Artificial Intelligence by conducting research, gathering information and analyzing data. This includes participation in project planning and outline development with focus group leaders, review of online resources, organization and interpretation of data and assistance in manuscript preparation and editing.
Ms. Rumping received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Francis Marion University and her Master’s degree as a Pathologists’ Assistant from Quinnipiac University.
Daniela Torvalds, MS, PA
Research Assistant
Daniela Torvalds graduated from Tulane University's Pathologists' Assistant program in December 2022 and is now working at Delta Pathology in New Orleans. Her responsibilities as a Research Assistant for the Panel of National Pathology Leaders included managing PNPL’s social media accounts and researching Diagnostic Medicine and Digital Pathology. Prior to enrolling as a PathA student, she worked as a Research Assistant at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, where she conducted research on learning and memory and wrote an honors thesis in neuroscience.
Ms. Torvalds received her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and psychology from Tulane University.
Honora Laduzinsky
Research Assistant
Honora Laduzinsky is a first-year Pathologists’ Assistant student at Rosalind Franklin University, set to graduate in 2025. Currently serving as a Research Assistant for the Panel of National Pathology Leaders, Honora conducts research on relevant literature aimed at advancing current practices in Diagnostic Medicine. Additionally, she actively engages with both the Chief Financial Officer/Revenue Cycle Management and Human Resources/Chief People Officer focus groups.
Before deciding to pursue a career in laboratory science, Honora worked in Business Development, where she supported healthcare organizations of various sizes in strengthening their growth efforts and enhancing partnerships with payers.
Honora earned her Bachelor's degree in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
